Answer to Question #103978 in General Chemistry for Kalyn

Question

The element arsenic would be expected to form covalent bond(s) in order to obey the octet rule.

Use the octet rule to predict the formula of the compound that would form between arsenic and hydrogen , if the molecule contains only one arsenic atom and only single bonds are formed.
Formula:

Answer 1

AsH₃

The electron configuration os Arsenic is - 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p³

Using the octet rule, we need to ''give'' As three more electrons to be completed. This means an ion of arsenic will look like As^-3. And if the molecule contains only single bonds, only three H⁺ will attach.